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What is public domain...and why should you care?
The phrase “public domain” naturally conjures an image of an area open
to the public. It’s logical to guess this phrase refers to community parks,
playgrounds, unprotected natural land (if there’s any of that left), and
structures like malls or downtown squares. Any place a bunch of folks can
get together without danger of trespassing or loitering accusations might
be a “public domain.”
However, this phrase also refers to a specific body of intellectual property.
Books, music, movies, images and photographs whose copyrights—the
little law that makes Bill Gates grin every time somebody says
“Microsoft”—have expired, or which were never copyrighted in the first
place (at least before 1989) are officially considered “public domain.” They
belong to the public, and any person may use their contents in any way
they choose.